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South African MP resigns over Ukraine mercenary allegations
Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, daughter of former South African President Jacob Zuma, has resigned as a member of parliament following accusations that she deceived 17 men into fighting for Russia in Ukraine's Donbas region. The opposition party uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) confirmed her departure, citing her desire to focus on securing the men's return.
Recruitment under false pretenses
In an unsigned affidavit obtained by local media, Zuma-Sambudla denied acting as a recruiter and claimed she, too, was misled. She stated she believed the men were traveling to Russia for "lawful" training, mirroring her own non-combat instruction there. "I would not knowingly expose my family or others to harm," she wrote, describing herself as a "victim of deception."
The men, including eight relatives of Zuma-Sambudla's half-sister Nkosazana Zuma-Mncube, allege they were promised bodyguard or counter-intelligence roles for MK. Instead, they were handed to Russian mercenary groups upon arrival. One recruit, identified as Sipho, sent voice notes to his family describing frontline conditions: "We're 10km from the fighting. Things you see in movies-we're living it."
"They bought us flight tickets. We trusted them." Sipho added that contracts were in Russian, leaving the group unaware of their true obligations.
Voice note obtained by the BBC
Families demand accountability
Xolani, Sipho's brother, dismissed Zuma-Sambudla's resignation as a "reputation-saving" move. "She's protecting her father's party," he told the BBC. "We want accountability and our men back." Another family member described the recruits as "treated like slaves," facing threats if they refused orders.
WhatsApp messages shared with the BBC reveal the men's desperation. One wrote: "We were told we'd go to safety-now we're deeper in danger." Another's final message read: "If anything happens... until next time." A contact under Zuma-Sambudla's name later urged them to "hang in there," but calls to the number went unanswered.
Police launch joint investigation
South Africa's elite police unit, the Hawks, confirmed it is probing "potential human trafficking, illegal recruitment, or fraud" after both Zuma-Sambudla and Zuma-Mncube filed complaints. Zuma-Mncube's statement accused her half-sister and two unnamed men of luring the group under false pretenses.
The government acknowledged distress calls from 17 citizens in Donbas, pledging diplomatic efforts for their return. However, families report no progress. Xolani said his brother's sporadic contact-interrupted by "military stuff"-leaves the family in constant fear.
MK party distances itself
MK chairperson Nkosinathi Nhleko stated the party supports Zuma-Sambudla's resignation and her efforts to repatriate the men. The party, formed in 2023 by Jacob Zuma after his split from the ANC, has faced scrutiny over its ties to the controversy. Zuma-Sambudla's father now leads MK, which won parliamentary seats in last year's elections.
Broader recruitment claims
Reports suggest at least 24 South Africans were initially recruited, with three deemed medically unfit and returned to Russia. One man was reportedly wounded by shrapnel; his location remains unknown. Bloomberg noted recruits may also include men from Botswana. The South African government has yet to provide updates on repatriation efforts.
